Electrical illuminating device



y 1935- F. F. MANOR 2,000,491 1 ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1932 g Z INII/ENTOR.

BY WM KW A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT or l-"ice ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATING DEVICE Florian F. Manor, Oshkosh, Wia, assignor of onethird to A. B. Bechaud and one-third to- A. T.

2 Claims.

- This invention relates to improvements in electrical illuminating devices and more particularly to devices for marking airway obstructions and I for illuminating airway routes.

6 High tension lines -for transmitting electric current are quite often located adjacent air ports and as a result these lines present quite a hazard to a plane which is landing or taking oil after dark. The proper markingof these obstructions 10 by means of lights has presented a difficult problem in view of the fact that an ordinary electrical connection cannot be made with the lines because of the high voltagecarried thereby. While it is, of course, possible to transmit current of proper voltage from some removed points to lights arranged adjacent the high tension lines, this usually entails too great an expense to be practical.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an electrical illuminating device which is relatively inexpensive in construction, which can be quickly applied directly to a high tension line, and which is arranged to utilize the high voltage current supplied thereby.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an electrical illuminating device embodying a pair of electrodes for receiving current in which one of said electrodes is directly connected to one conductor 'of a high voltage line and in which the other electrode is positioned in spaced relation from another conductor so as to induce current therefrom. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical illuminating device which is constructed in a novel manner for suspension from a conductor of a transmission line. A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical illuminating device as above described wherein the suspension means is constructed to permit swinging of the device so as 40 to prevent damage by the wind.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described wherein the illuminating means may comprise a luminescent, gas filled tube. I v

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an electrical illuminating device which is suitable for use not only as an obstruction marker but also to illuminate air routes and thereby serve as a guide to night fliers.

With the above and other objectsin view, the invention consists of the improved electrical illuminating device, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the inventionv in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

showing it in connection with a conductor, part tors spaced one above the other.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the device being shown in section and only a fragmentof the conductor being illustrated;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

v Fig. 3 isan enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the juncture point of the tubes as they appear in front elevation; 1

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of a transmis: sion line tower showing the illuminating devices as suspended from one of the transmission conductors; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view on a slightly larger scale,

showing the adaptation to a different type of transmission line.

Electrical transmission lines usually extend from a point where electricity is generated to some removed point where sufiicient energy for gener-' ating electricity is not present or where the generation of electricity would involve too great an expense. These transmission lines usually carry a plurality of conductors and they are generally arranged so that there are three sets of conduc- Certain types of transmission lines I also include an upper grounded conductor and lower conductors carrying the current. These transmission lines frequently extend for a great many miles across portions of the country and often times carry electricity over mountains or other natural obstructions. In view of the great number of these transmission lines which are in use throughout the i country at the present time it happens that many air ports are located relatively near to one or more of these obstructions.

The illuminating device of the present invention may be effectively utilized on those portions of the transmission lines which are too near to an airport, for the sole purpose of pointing out the obstructions to the aviator or they may be suspended at intervals along the transmission lines as said lines extendacross portions 'of the country where the transmission lines are in line with an air route. By this means the air route may be marked out in an inexpensive manner. Furthermore, where the transmission lines extend over mountains or hills the useof these devices on the portions of the lines extending thereover is a great aid to a flier as it enables him to ascertain. the nature of the landscape and enables him to control his plane accordingly to avoid accidents.

Referring more particularly .to. the drawing,

the numeral 8 designates an upper conductor of the transmission line which may be supported by a tower 9 or by a pole 9' of the type shown in devices the said wire is preferably wrapped spirally with a metallic band H. A clamping member l2 comprises a pair of complementary sections each having complementary semi-cylindrical upper grooves l3 and lower grooves l4. Nuts and bolts I5 may be utilized to cause clamping of the member 12 around the spiral wrapped portion of the conductor, the said conductor being received in the grooves l3 of the clamping member. A supporting tube, preferably of glass, has a U-shaped upper portion I6, which is supported in the lower grooves M of the clamping member. The clamping member is so constructed that while it will rigidly clamp the conductor, there will be a rather loose connection with the upper portion l6 so'as to permit a certain amount of swinging movement of said supporting tube. The main portion of the supporting tube, indicated by the numeral [1, extends downwardly for a substantial distance and is disposed substantially midway between the arms of the U-shaped portion IS, the said supporting tube portion I! being connected by an angular section l8 with one of the arms of the U-shaped part. The other arm 01' said U-shaped part is suitably secured as at H! by means of tape or in any other manner to a portion of the luminescent tube to support the latter.

The said luminescent tube has an enlarged portion 20 disposed substantially in alinement with the supporting tube portion I! and said enlarged portion joins with a narrowed portion 2| which extends away from the central supporting tube in one direction and which then is bent to provide-a section 22 extending back toward the supporting tube portion l'l crossing the latter beneath the tube section 2| to form a section 23 extending away from the central support I! in the other direction. Said section of the luminescent tube 23 is then suitably bent to provide a section 2! which extends back toward the central supporting tube beneath the sections 2| and 22 and thendownwardly adjacent the supporting section I! as at 25. The formation shown resembles an arrow having a depending tail portion.

The upper enlarged end portion 20 of the luminescent tube is provided with the usual electrode 28 which is connected by means of a section of wire 21 directly with the clamp l2 which makes rigid connection with the high voltage line conductor 8, and the lower end of the luminescent tube is'tormed with another electrode 28 having a wire 29 connected thereto, the said. wire extending exteriorly of the tube and being coiled around a lower portion thereof as at 30. The said coil is preferably insulated by means of tape or the like 3|.

At the juncture of the various crossing tube sections said-sections are suitably bound together by means of tape 32 or the like. In addition the portion of the U-shaped tube part l6 which extends through the clamping member may be taped as at IE to provide insulation and to prevent too much freedom for swinging movement.

The luminescent tube is constructed of glass in the usual manner and is the type containing suitable gases such as neon which are rendered luminescent when current is passed through the tube.

With the device suspended as shown and with the upper electrode 26 electrically connected with the conductor 8, and the lower electrode 28 connected with the coil 30, there will be a leakance to the earth or to adjacent conductors which are at a potential different from that of the potential of the conductor to which the upper electrode is attached, thereby permitting an electrical dis-,- charge to take place through the tube due to such difference in potential.

In order to install the devices it is necessary to shut off the flow of current through the power lines temporarily. The installation, however, due to the simple means of support can be quickly accomplished. When the power is again turned on the tubes will be rendered luminescent due to the direct connection of one electrode with one conductor and to the induction of current to the other electrode from another conductor.

It has been found thatthe current consumption of these devices is practically negligible when thus used.

It is, of course, obvious that the luminescent tube may be shaped in other ways from that shown, that is to form an outline other than that of an arrow. It is also to be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and all of such changes are contem plated as may come within the scope of the claims.

WhatI claim is:

1. An illuminating device for high tension lines having conductors comprising an electrical illuminating tube having upper and lower terminals, a support to which said tube is secured, a clamp formed by a pair of complementary sections each having a pair of clamping grooves therein, means for drawing said sections together to rigidly secure a portion of one of the conductors of the high tension line in one set of grooves and to loosely engage the tube support in the other set of grooves, and means for electrically connecting the terminal of said tube to said upper conductor of the high tension line, said loose engagement of the clamp with the tube support providing for swinging movement of the tube to prevent breakage by the wind.

2. An illuminating device for high tension lines having conductors comprising a supporting structure having a U-shaped connecting part and having an elongated part extending from one of the arms of said U-shaped part, means for detachably securing said U-shaped part to one of the conductors, an electrical illuminating tube having a pair of spaced terminals and having an elongated extension part carrying one of said terminals and having a laterally extending part, means for securing said tube to the supporting structure with the elongated extension part of the tube adjacent to and braced by the elongated part 

